Advice about planning a trip to spain?!!?!?!?

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dart

For pocket money...figure about 30/day, if you plan to eat at restaurants about half the time...buy at markets, things that won't spoil, and picnic a bunch.

No partying? No problem! You are young for it, anyway. You'll have so much more fun if you aren't hungover!

Places to go: You should probably start at Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor...read up and understand the history of these places.
You MUST go to the Prado...plan to see one or both of the other big art museums: The Reina Sofía, and the Tysse-Bournemaszo (sp?)
Parque del Retiro. Really pretty, there are some highlights...it's a nice place to go for a Sunday afternoon stroll. Also on Sunday, the Rastro is a sight! Big Market...and there's a coin and stamp market in the Plaza Mayor. Palacio Real is really cool, and the Cathedral across the way. Also: smaller museums abound in Madrid...places like the tapestry museum, decorative arts, oh, you could get lost!

I like to window shop wherever I happen to be, and I generally just eat wherever I'm hungry...no particular goals that way. But there's a great little family-run locals restaurant called El Rey del Pimiento (belongs to people I know...really nice folks!) in the Plaza de la Puerta Cerrada, if you want to eat like real folks...and stay away from the places in Plaza Mayor...historic, and interesting, but the food is pretty mundane, mostly comes out of boxes, and pretty pricey. Eat there once for the atmosphere, but don't expect gourmet or anything! Casa Botín, on the Calle de Toledo side of the Plaza (and outside, a story lower than the plaza itself) is historic...supposedly the oldest restaurant in the world...worth visiting, if only to say you've been there...and there's a strip of famous tapas places along that road. One other place you should check out is a confitería in Puerta del Sol...across from the Tío Pepe sign, called La Mallorqueña. Really good sweets!

While in Madrid, consider day trips to Toledo (the historic capital of Castilla-La Mancha, and home of El Greco...a whole museum in itself!), Segovia, historic capital of Castilla-León...highlights include the fairytale castle where Isablel la Católica grew up, and the first century Roman Aqueduct, Avila for its famous curtain walls and homes and historic points relating to Sta. Teresa. Quixote country, wine country, and several other cities and palaces, and castles all within easy daytripping distance..

Barcelona is a haven for the avant-garde...has been for over a hundred years. Very artistic place...lots of really neat architecture in the Eixample district...take the tourist bus through it...it's too vast to do on foot! Highlights on the tour are Casa Battló and La Pedrera both designed by Gaudí, and a number of other buildings designed by the other great Modernistas, Camp Nou (fútbol stadium), Parc Güell (major Gaudí architectural display) and Sagrada Familia, Gaudí's masterpiece, the unfinished church that you have quite possibly heard of - do a search. You will be amazed! It is so huge!

Also, you MUST stroll the Ramblas...stop in some of the shops to browse...tons of tourist souvenirs...mostly made in China. The ice cream shops are to die for! and chocolate in Barcelona is among the best in the world! You must detour from the uphill side into the Barrí Gotic. All the oldest buildings in the city are mostly concentrated right there. The Cathedral...and tons of people have excavated their own basements and found Roman ruins...many of them have opened private museums. They might be interesting.

The Museu Xocolat is interesting, the Palau Musica has concerts and is worth touring in the daytime, just to see the masterpiece skylight. CHECK THIS OUT FIRST as their schedule is sometimes erratic, and they close during ordinary hours, without much notice!

Poble Espanyol is interesting, though I expected that the art stores would be more traditional handcrafts and was surprised to discover it was like a craft show in the US, those places where the artists make ceramics, sculptures, woodcrafts and Jewelry...very modern. Not as much to my interests. But the architecture represents every region of Spain. So you can kind of feel as though you have seen the entire country.

There's a castle atop the mountain, and the Palau Nacional, where you sit on the steps and watch the Magic Fountain show...a fountain that they light up to classical music and change the water spouts to choreograph to the music. Really cool! But watch your valuables...crowds and pickpockets...

Also, tons of art in Barcelona, in galleries and museums...Fundació Miró, a Dalí museum, and Picasso are the ones that come to mind most immediately.

Barcelona: again, tons of great places to daytrip to...Figueres, home of Dalí, has the most famous museum of his work. Cadaqués was home to many artists, still an enclave of sorts. Girona is pretty, Tarragona has a wonderful Roman Amphitheater that is well preserved,

kittysue2000

If you don't drink or are into nightlife, 10 days in Barcelona is really long. You can see most of the city in 3-4 days. Madrid is larger and can take 4-5 days if you want to visit all the museums. I would add on another city like Bilbao, Grenada, Sevilla or elsewhere if you have that much time

As for where to go in Madrid, it really depends what you are interested in. Get a guide book because everyone likes different things

I would never leave anything of value in a hostel anywhere. You never know who is staying in the room with you and how honest they are. Even in a place like Iceland or Norway that has VERY low crime rates, I wouldn't ever leave anything of value in a hostel. One of the people in our room in Iceland had his phone and camera stolen when we were at breakfast. He came back and his small backpack had been unzipped and his phone and camera were gone. There is no way to know who did it - staff or another guest.

Xabier

Agreeded do not leave items on show in any Hostal or Motel (in shared rooms, commonly in most expensive hotels you'd still place your PSP in a draw before you leave the room, just for security. most hotels won't pay for somthing to be replaced if your room was broken into)

You can eat a late lunch and get Menu del día... a cheap all inclsive meal, good value for money and oftern nice food. in Spain we don't eat until a lot later than most Americans so if you see a restraunt empty, it might not be bad but quite because it is to early.

I think you'll need to visit more cities if you don't drink. You can still go to the discotecas and bars... but won't it be borning, I'm not telling you to get drunk every night... Barça & Madrid the transport is about the same price, I'd look into a station once you arrive and buy some form of season ticket. It can be expensive... I think 25€ for a week of unlimited travel? but that is just a guess...

What do you want to buy ?? In Spain (Mainland) we have %16 sales tax. From Barça if you wanted to buy a new iPod or somthing then I'd recomend getting the Bus to Andorra, it WILL take about 4 hours but the sales tax is only %4 or free on most items... Portugal can be cheap, but only in the sales so you could get a train if you wanted to buy things but depending on the seaon. from Barça you can get a boat to our Spanish Cities in Morocco for two days ?? or Visit the Balearic Islands ?? or get the Train to France ??

So you can say **I've been to France for Lunch** =) I live in the north near Pamplona-Navarra. Come and visit for the day ?? Go to the beaches in Donostia ?? or go to France and visit Biarritz spend lot's of money in the Casino there ??

There is lot's you can do, but I'd say your holiday is to long for no nightlife so take some days out of Barça and maybe get lot's of little trains to each location, this way you can see more of Spain

To help you plan your trip
www.renfe.es
it is the Main-line train company in Spain, I think you can change the language to English

Daniella S

You can visit the following places in Madrid

Palacio Real,The Plaza Mayor,La Casa De Campo,The National Archeological Museum,Puerta Del Sol,Cafe De Chinitas,Museo De La Real Academia De Bellas Artes,Buen Retiro Park,Museo Nacional Centro De Arte Reina Sofia,Gran Via,Plaza De Espana,Royal Botanical Gardens,Atocha Train Station,Teatro Real,Plaza De Toros (Las Ventas),Arab Wall

KonSengWon

I don't know about anyone else but I always lug around 10-15 cans of Slimfast, and trail mix from Sam's. I carry plenty of water in my pack and bread from the daily breakfast table. I rarely eat out, except once or twice during any 10-17 day tour abroad. If I spend any souvenir money it is solely for CLOSE loved ones only and bosom buddies.

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